New for Today

Two new words for today: "defensa" (defense) and "rebote" (rebound). I joined the cheering section at G's basketball game this evening. It apparently wasn't his best game, but the team won by 1 point, so they're happy. I just enjoyed watching him play. I can't remember how many years it's been since I've been able to sit on the sidelines at one of his games. The team is multinational--several Spaniards, a Frenchman, and 3 Americans--and the gym is close, a brisk 10-minute walk from G's apartment.

It's still pretty chilly here (there were a few snowflakes when I was out earlier in the day), so everyone's bundled up in scarves (they do love their mufflers here) and coats, but have only seen a couple of people wearing hats.

Also new is where I am at the moment--my new "home". Paula is perhaps mid-70's and has lived in this apartment for 30 years. She's done a lot of remodeling and decorating over the years. My room is large and light; it'll be a nice place to stay this week.

I've been to and from G's place all by myself on the Metro, figuring out which lines to change to and which exits to take (that's the tricky part--so you don't end up 3 blocks away and on the wrong side of the street, having no idea where you are). I've got to say, their Metro system is really nice. I've seen several billboards showing either a sphinx or the Statue of Liberty peering down into a Metro entrance with the caption, loosely translated, "The Metro everyone would like to have lives in Madrid." It is quite efficient; I just have to avoid thinking about how far underground I am. I feel like a miner going down flight after flight of stairs and/or escalators. Sure wish we had something like this in Seattle.

Well, I really have to do a little studying before turning in because tomorrow I start school and the first thing they'll do is to give me a level test. I've forgotten much of my vocabulary and some of the intricacies of the verb tenses; maybe I can nudge my memory a little tonight.